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Publication date:June 2022
Key Points
- CAS is pleased to respond to this call for evidence on health assessments. We have long been calling for fairer processes which put people’s rights at the heart of it, and we want to see a fairer system of dignified, accessible, timely, and fair medical assessments that provide disabled people with the support they are entitled to.
- Although there will be no new claims for PIP due to the full implementation of Adult Disability Payment across Scotland from 29 August, we have responded to the questions relating to the future of PIP as we have a wealth of data and experience on the administration of PIP.
- CAS has restricted its responses to those where we have robust data to inform our responses.
Recommendations
- A range of assessment types should be available, face-to-face, telephone and in person, and the client should be able to choose their preferred method. Outcomes for each method should be monitored to ensure parity.
- Descriptors for both PIP and ESA should be reviewed to better reflect social and human rights models of disability and move beyond assessing a lack of functionality.
- The use of lived experience panels and user groups involved in the design and development of any changes made to the claims and assessment processes.
- Consideration should be given to the Social Security Scotland approach to assessment, in particular:
- The use of specialist assessors;
- Bringing the assessment 'in-house';
- Gathering evidence on behalf of the client; and
- Making a medical assessment the last resort.
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Publication date:May 2022
The Warm Home Discount scheme provides important funding for the short-term relief of fuel poverty. However, a combination of research and evidence from the Citizens Advice network in Scotland has previously found that while the Warm Home Discount is seen as vital by those who receive it, it is not adequately reaching those who need it most. Whilst CAS welcomes proposals for a scheme for Scotland for 2022-26, we have raised concerns that the proposals do not go far enough to address the issues of the previous scheme years.
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Publication date:May 2022
Employment advice accounted for 4% of all advice given by the Citizens Advice network in Scotland in 2021-22. Yet while our advisers are able to offer people information about their rights at work, many struggle to enforce these rights in practice.
CAS is calling for:
- A three-pronged approach to ensuring fair work in low-paid sectors, covering:
- A preventative strand focused on awareness-raising for individuals and employers, working with schools and job centres to ensure those entering the workforce are fully informed of their rights and entitlements, and with enterprise bodies to ensure new employers understand their responsibilities.
- An easy process, anonymised if necessary, where employees, employers, and witnesses can report concerns that result in swift investigative action.
- A strong approach to enforcement when non-compliance is found, with responses guided by the severity and impact of the non-compliance.
- Adequate funding for employment support and wider advice services. › A holistic view towards supporting fair work, in particular by providing a strong social security system and other policies to tackle the rising cost of living, in order to give people the security to challenge poor working practices without facing poverty.
- A prioritisation of the Employment Bill and the introduction of a single enforcement body, adequately funded in order to effectively protect worker’s rights.
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CAS Impact Workplan 2022-23Publication date:May 2022Citizens Advice Scotland’s Impact work plan this year looks to deliver changes for citizens across 7 key areas, alongside a suite of ongoing work to benefit people. This work is rooted in the experiences of the people who have sought help from the Citizens Advice network in the past year, and developed through quantitative and qualitative analysis of those experiences.
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Proposals to amend the guide to help ensure customers in debt or struggling to pay are treated fairlyPublication date:May 2022Spotlight:
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Issue 8 of the Citizens Advice Scotland network magazinePublication date:April 2022Welcome to the Spring 2022 edition of Voice Magazine.
As we all return to a more normal working life, we talk to Renfrewshire CAB about the innovative approaches they have taken to fill unfunded roles and to welcome new volunteers into the bureau. In this issue we also take a look at the range of work taking place across the network to help people in Scotland address the current cost of living crisis. We talk to Edinburgh CAB colleagues about how they approached our recent Debt Happens campaign and we speak to Aberdeen and Fife about how they have built relationships and forged partnerships with their local authorities to the benefit of clients.
We meet some of the new Advice Services Team who explain how they hope to work with the network and we offer up some top tips for getting some local media coverage for your bureaux and promoting the great work you do.
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Publication date:April 2022Spotlight:
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Publication date:April 2022
CAS response to the Finance and Public Administration Committee Inquiry into National Outcomes
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Publication date:April 2022Spotlight:
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Citizens Advice Scotland have responded to Ofcom's discussion paper on the regulators future approach to mobile markets.Publication date:April 2022
The day-to-day activities of citizens are becoming increasingly dependent on their ability to use telecommunications services, such as mobile phones, broadband or landlines. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the essential nature of online connectivity and access to internet data, with many people relying on internet access for working from home, staying informed, or interacting with welfare services, and friends and family.
For clients of the Scottish Citizens Advice network, their mobile phones have become increasingly important in accessing vital online services; with one in five of our clients accessing the internet only through their smart phones. Having a reliable, consistent and affordable mobile connection is essential for clients to access services such as Universal Credit journals and online banking.
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CAS Briefing paper on Postal Services in ScotlandPublication date:April 2022
Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) has served as Scotland’s designated consumer advocacy body for postal services for the past 8 years. From 1 April 2022, this function will be transferred to Consumer Scotland. During our time as the consumer advocate, we have made sure that the voice of Scottish postal consumers has been heard by regulators and service providers alike. Our work has been focused on making postal services accessible and affordable for all consumers, no matter where they live, or what their income level or personal characteristics may be.
This briefing highlights the key issues facing postal market consumers in Scotland today.
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Publication date:April 2022Spotlight:
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Publication date:April 2022
This briefing presents the impact of the Scottish Citizens Advice network over the last few years, and its value to the communities it serves.
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Publication date:April 2022
Citizens Advice Scotland has responded to the Scottish Government's consultation on the Resource Spending Review. You can download our response below.
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An analysis of homelessness advice cases provided by Scotland’s CAB networkPublication date:March 2022
This report is published jointly by CAS and the homelessness charity Crisis.
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Publication date:March 2022
CAS has responded to Ofcom's consultation on the regulatory framework for postal services for the next 5 years.
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CAS briefing on polling conducted with SMEs on postal servicesPublication date:March 2022
This briefing summarises the key findings of research conducted by YouGov in November 2021. The polling reflects the experiences of 500 senior decision makers in small to medium enterprises (SMEs) in Scotland.
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Publication date:March 2022
CAS has responded to a Scottish Government consultation on proposed increases to court fees in Scotland.
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Publication date:March 2022The competitive water market in Scotland was launched in April 2008. This report explores small to medium business customers’ experiences of the market. It brings together policy insights and market developments with evidence from recently commissioned research. Recommendations are provided which, when actioned by the market, will deliver offerings that have been informed by service users to improve consumer outcomes.
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Publication date:February 2022
Citizens Advice Scotland has responded to the consultation run by the Scottish Parliament's COVID-19 Recovery Committee
Stressed About Debt? High costs of energy, food and fuel mean that many people are finding it impossible to keep up, worrying about debt or falling behind on bills. The Citizens Advice network in Scotland is here for you, with free, confidential and impartial advice in a variety of ways.